Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad have made compelling cases for selection by the BCCI committee through their outstanding performances in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. Kishan, who has not been part of the Indian team since the beginning of the year, delivered an impressive century against Manipur. The left-handed batsman was included in India's ODI World Cup squad last year but requested a break during the tour of South Africa. Subsequently, the BCCI invited him to participate in the Ranji Trophy, a request he declined, resulting in the loss of his central contract.

The wicketkeeper-batsman is diligently working to regain his position in the Indian team and is actively participating in domestic tournaments. In the match against Manipur, captain Kishan scored an explosive 134 runs off just 78 balls, leading Jharkhand to a remarkable 9-wicket victory. His innings included 16 fours and 6 sixes, showcasing his batting prowess.

Similarly, Gaikwad has made a strong argument for inclusion in the Champions Trophy by scoring 148 runs off 74 balls against Services. He played a pivotal role in guiding Maharashtra to a dominant 9-wicket win, with his innings featuring 16 fours and 11 sixes, further demonstrating his consistency in white-ball cricket.

Shreyas Iyer strengthens his case

In a recent match, Shreyas Iyer showcased his aggressive batting prowess once more, scoring 44 runs off just 20 deliveries, contributing to Mumbai's 3-wicket victory over Hyderabad. Iyer is currently in excellent form in domestic cricket and is anticipated to return to the Indian team for the upcoming ODI series against England and the Champions Trophy, where he is expected to occupy the number 4 position, a role in which he excelled during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Conversely, Suryakumar Yadav had a disappointing performance in the same match, managing only 18 runs before being dismissed.

In another encounter, Madhya Pradesh captain Rajat Patidar had a lackluster performance during a low-scoring chase against Delhi, scoring a mere two runs as his team fell short by 79 runs while attempting to reach a target of 212. This defeat highlighted Madhya Pradesh's over-reliance on Patidar within their batting order. On the other hand, Navdeep Saini was exceptional with the ball for Delhi, taking four wickets and helping to dismiss Madhya Pradesh for just 132 runs.

Additionally, Krunal Pandya played a pivotal role in Baroda's victory, scoring an impressive 80 runs off 54 balls, which included 7 fours and 3 sixes. His performance was instrumental in leading Baroda to a significant 62-run win over Kerala. Batting first, Baroda amassed a formidable total of 403/4, bolstered by a remarkable 136-run innings from Ninad Rathva and Pandya's unbeaten contribution.

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